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Repair & Installation

The Importance Of Garage Door Sensors

Published on October 20th, 2017

Did you know that garage door sensors have been required in all garage door systems since 1993? Garage door sensors are a very important part of your garage door system. Garage door companies have implemented door sensors in order to be compliant with federal regulations. There are two types of sensors: safety sensors and control sensors. As your garage door repair Skokie company, we want to make sure that you understand the importance of sensors in order to keep your family safe.

How do garage door sensors work?

For the most part, “photo eyes” are installed by garage door companies for use with their door opening mechanisms. The main function of the photo eyes is to ensure that there is not anything blocking the path of the door when it is opening and closing. In order for the door to close, the photo eyes must “see each other. If the ray has been interrupted, the garage door will reverse and open instead of close.

Garage door sensors are connected to a control system that will send signals to open and close the door or to turn lights that are connected on and off. Usually, a remote control is used to control this system. Often times, when this system is not working properly it can due to low battery power in the remote. Sometimes there can also be issues with radio traffic on or near the frequency used by the garage.

Make Sure Your Sensors Are Always Working Properly

Safety sensors prevent the door from closing on an object, person, or car in the door’s path. Many lives have been saved and damage to vehicles avoided from this feature. It’s very important that if you notice that your sensors are not working correctly you act immediately. First, check to make sure the batteries are not dead, it’s also a good idea to try to reprogram the remote.Next, check to make sure that the garage door itself is not locked. Lastly, check to see if the garage door opener receiving antenna needs to be adjusted. If none of these do the trick, it’s time to contact your garage door repair Skokie company. It could be a simple fix such as getting a new garage door remote or there could be a larger underlying issue.